MARC LEDENT, 24

Construction project manager,
Wayne State University

Marc Ledent came into his position as construction project manager for Wayne State University almost by chance.

The 24-year-old, who had planned on being a teacher, took a summer job as a concrete tester during college and got the construction bug. He hasn't looked back, spending time with HNTB Corp., which is based in Kansas City but has an office in Detroit, and a brief stint in the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office before joining WSU.

Today he's overseeing construction of the $59 million Mike Ilitch School of Business, where students not much younger than he is will start learning come fall, and expects to soon manage the $65 million Hilberry Gateway Performance Complex project, which is slated to expand the theater with a new lobby, jazz center, learning space and performing arts labs.

He had only been on the job a few months when Ledent, who graduated from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, was thrust into a leadership role following his supervisor's retirement.

"It kind of fell to me at that point," Ledent said. "When I came on board here, I was told I had to work six months here and figure it out. My main role is to monitor the project budget and schedule and make sure everyone is on the same page."

He said he's had to put in time off-hours to get up to speed on subjects he's not well versed in. But all the hours are worth it, the Lincoln Park native said.

"It's the opportunity to come back and work in Detroit and help bring everything back up and build this city into what it once was," he said.

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